11:58 AM,
Jan. 23, 2014

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

State bat scientists are going underground starting this week to see if Wisconsin's bat caves and mines continue to be free of white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease that has killed millions of bats in the eastern U.S. since 2007. They also are asking the public to keep an eye out above ground for any signs of sick or dead bats.

"We need help from the public to save Wisconsin bats," says Paul White, a Department of Natural Resources conservation biologist. "Bats are an important part of our ecosystems and provide Wisconsin farmers up to $1.5 billion in natural pest control every year.